Dual actuator switch mechanism



July 20, 1965 L. M. WEEKS DUAL ACTUATOR SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Jan. 2, 1962 BY 4) ATTORNEY e2 eo Il -le United States Patent O 3,196,218 DUAL ACTUATOR SWITCH MECHANISM Lemar M. Weeks, Hyde Park, NX., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Weston Instruments, Inc., a corporation of Texas Filed Jan. 2,1962, Ser. No. 163,505 14 Claims. (Cl. 20u- 5) This invention relates to a push-type actuator mechanism and more particularly to a dual actuator mechanism for operating dual electrical switches.

Many difliculties have been encountered in the present day efforts toward miniaturizing the many component parts of electrical apparatus. One particular diirculty has been the problem of providing adequate room on an operating, or control panel for the several indicating and/ or control means associated with electrical apparatus. Unfortunately, the sizes of the various controls required to be manipulated by a human operator may not be reduced beyond that size which permits the easy manipulation thereof by an operators hand and/ or fingers. In addition, it is difficult to modernize many existing electrical apparatus since its control panel often is overcrowded and will not permit the installation of any additional controls or switches.

It is therefore an object of this invention to reduce the space required by push-type actuator mechanisms.

Another object of this invention is to replace a single push-type actuator mechanism with a dual push-type actuator mechanism which occupies no more space on a control panel than existing single actuators.

A further object of this invention is to provide a dual actuator mechanism of the push-type in which inadvertent operation of both actuating means at the same time is prevented.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, separate actuating mechanisms for each of two separate electrical switches are placed in the same cylindrical housing normally utilized for a single switch. A separator plate is positioned diametrically inside the cylindrical housing to separate the dual actuating mechanisms and to prevent both switches from being actuated at the same time unintentionally. To actuate both switches simultaneously, both oftheir push buttons must be delibrately and individually depressed. The push buttons are each attached to identical actuating members positioned on either side of the separator plate. The actuating members are spring loaded to drive respective pawls which in turn rotate, in a step-by-step fashion, individual cams. The cams in turn actuate individual micro-switches to complete the dual switch that has the space saving feature mentioned.

Further advantages and features of this invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following de-A scriptionn read in conjunction with the drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of the dual push-type actuating mechanism of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the dual actuating mechanism of the push-type in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 3 is a vertical elevation view in section of the switch illustrated in FIG. 2 with the lamps housings deleted; and

FIG. 4 is a side, vertical elevation view, partly cut away, along the section line 4 4 of FIG. 3.

In the drawings of FIGS. 1 and 2 there is illustrated a circular, hollow housing, or shell lil. The several component parts ofthe actuating mechanism of this invention are mounted in operative relationship in the housing 11i.-

3,196,218 Patented July 20, 1965 ICC threaded in the manner of the usual single push-type switch. The bushing 12 and associated lock nut 13 may thus serve as a panel mounting means to permit the dual switch actuating mechanism of this invention to be readily substituted for existing switch or actuating mechanisms. The substitution is possible without requiring additional space or altering the control panel in which it is mounted. This permits the two actuating mechanisms or switches to be mounted in the same space normally occupied by a single switch.

Two push buttons 44, separated by a T-shaped separator plate 18 permit either of two micro-switches 30 to be actuated. The micro-switches 30 are actuated by a switch and cam assembly 17 mounted at the lower end of the housing 10. Separate lamp housings 15 are mounted on either side of the housing 10 to illuminate translucent indicia caps 4S in each of the push buttons 44.

The details of the mechanisms within the housing 10 and the switch and cam assembly 17 are more clearly apparent from a consideration of the section views of FIGS. 3 and 4. A U-.shaped mounting bracket 16 for the switch and cam assembly 17 is secured by means of a disc-shaped end cap 24 and screws 26 to the bottom of the housing 10. The U-shaped mounting bracket 16 serves las a mounting means for the micro-switches 30 and the actuating cams 46 therefor. A helical compression spring 34 is arranged within the lower portion of the housing 10 between the end cap 24 and a spring retaining collar 32. Both the end cap 24 and the collar 32 have slots, or central guide apertures 28 and 36, respectively. Upward movement of the collar 32 beyond larnp openings 11 in the housing 10 is prevented by the T-shaped separator plate 18.

The respective slots 28 and 36 serve as iirst and second guide means for two flat, actuator rods 38 which are positioned on either side of the separator plate 18 and extend downwardly into the switch and cam assembly 17 and upwardly through the mounting bushing 12. Slots 39 are formed in the actuator rods 38 to receive the pin 19 mounted in the mid-portion of the separator plate. The pin 19 limits the upward and downward motion of the respective actuator rods 38. The exposed ends oi' each of the actuator rods 38 carry on the top thereof, secured by mounting screws 43, a push button 44 which may be a molded plastic and in the shape of a half oval. Each of the push buttons 44, has a recess to accommodate a translucent indicia cap 45. The two indicia caps 45 may receive illumination from respective light bulbs inserted in the respective holes 11 in the housing 10. The bottom portion of each push button 44 is hollow, semicircular in shape, and of such dimensions as to tightly fit inside respective semi-circular, piston-shaped guide members 42. The exterior circumference of each of the guide members 42 is such that a vertical sliding fit is had with the inner circumference of the hollow bushing 12. Thus, these cooperating surfaces provide a third guide means (in addition to the slots 28 and 36, respectively) for each of the actuator rods 38.

The separator plate 18, having an inverted T configuration (see FIG. 4), is disposed between the actuator rods 38 with its tongue members 20, formed by the cross bar of the T, securely iitted within diametrically opposite slots 22 in the upper portion of the housing 1t). The width of the stern of the T-shaped plate 18 is selected so as to fit closely, and diametrically, within the bushing 12. The vertical length of the separator plate 18 is chosen to extend from the bottom of the slots 22 to the uppermost exposed ends of the actuator rods 38. The bottom of the edge of the cross bar portion of the T-shaped separator plate 18 thus serves as an upper limit or stop means for the upward movement of the spring retaining collar 32 medals under the iniiuence of the compression spring 34. Each of the actuator rods 38 has a stepped, or ilanged portion 4@ which extends outwardly beyond the slot 3d in the collar 32 such that the downwardly movement of either of the actuator rods 33 drives the collar 32 downwardly, thereby compressing the helical spring 34. This construction provides the spring bias for the push buttons 44.

rlhe lower ends of the respective actuator rods 38 each have an outwardly extending pin 60 mounted thereon and so positioned as to engage respective slots 58 .in respective pawls S4. Each of the pawls 54 are supported by respective collars 52 and mounting screws 50 placed in the upright portions of the mounting 4bracket i6. Adjacent each of the pawls 54, respective actuating cams 46 are mounted on the respective collars 52, separated from the mounting bracket by spacer sleeves 43.

The adjoining inner faces of the sides of the cam-s 46 are suitably notched in a well-known manner to be rotated in a step-.by-step motion by a tongue member 56 on each of the pawls 54, in response to each downward movement of the respective acutator rods 38. In addition, the periphery of each cam 46 is suitably notched with alternate deep and shallow notches 64. Separate switch actuating arms 68 are mounted on the respective sides of the mounting bracket 16 to engage the respective switch actuators 66 of the micro-switches 3i). yThe free end of each switch actuating arm 68 engages the notches 64 in the outer periphery of the respective cams 46 to lock the cams 46 in step-by-step positions. ln turn, the respective switch actuating arms 68 cause their respective micro-switches 3b to be made or broken depending upon the notch 64 engaged by the actuating arm 68.

Each pawl 54 includes a locking arm 62 having a V- shaped free end adapted to engage the peripheral slots 64 in their respective cams 54. Each lockingV arm 6?; functions as an integral part of its pawl 54 to insu-re positive movement of the associated cam 46; i.e., in the event a partial movement of a switch actuating rod 38 causes a cam 46 to rotate slightly, the associated locking arm 62 restores the cam 46 to its initial position when the actuator rod 38 is released.

Consider, for example, that the right-hand (in the drawing) push button 44 is depressed, thereby causing a downward movement of the right hand actuating rod 3d. The step portion 4d of the right-hand actuating rod 38 depresses the collar 32 thereby compressing the compression spring 34. Upon release of the push buttons 44, spring 34 returns the right actuator rod 3S and hence the push button 44 to its normal unoperated position. The downward movement of the right actuator rod 3S,

acting through the pin 6? rotates the right-hand pawl 54 and its mounting collar S2. The tongue S6 of the pawl S4 engages one of the side notches of the right-hand cam 46 and causes a partial rotation thereof from one peripheral notch 64 to the next. After the rotation is complete, the cam 46 is locked in position by the switch actuating arm 68 engaging one of the peripheral notches 64. Depending upon whether the tip of the switch actuating arm 68 engages a shallow or deep notch 64, the switch actuator ed is either actuated or not. Although the embodiment here is shown in conjunction with micro-switches 3i?, -it should be apparent that other mechanical mechanisms may be substituted therefor.

As mentioned previously, each or" the indicia caps may be of a translucent material to be illuminated by a lamp inserted through the openings 11 in the housing 10. A conventional lamp housing 1S (FIGS. l and 2) may be positioned on the side or" the housing l@ so as to cover each of the lamp holes l1 in a conventional manner. Since the separator plate 18 is arranged diametrically across the interior of the housing it) and the bushing i2, the illumination for each of the indicia caps 45 is provided by a separate lamp so as to provide suitable indication of the operative state, for example, of the respective switches 36E, Additional advantages of this invention are obtained 'by the selection of the separator plate 1S to have a length as heretofore described. The separator plate l Serves to prevent the actuation of both of the switches 3i? by the inadvertent pressing of both of the push buttons 44 by an operators finger. In accordance with this invention, to actuate both switches 30 simultaneously, an operator must use at least two fingers to depress both of the push buttons 44.

There has thus been described a dual actuator mechanism that occup-ies the same space in a panel board as that previously occupied by a lsingle actuator mechanis-rn. The dual mechanism Y prevents the inadvertent operation of both mechanism simultaneously.

Since many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely diierent embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompa-nying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

l claim:

E. a dual actuator mechanism comprising: a hollow `cylindrical shell, a hollow cylindrical bushing concentrically mounted in one end of said cylindrical shell, a T-shaped separator plate with the cross bar of the T- shaped plate diametrically mounted inside said one end of said shell and the stern of the T-shaped plate having a suheient width for diametrically iitting within the bushing, a d-isc-shaped end cap, having a guide slot therein, concentrically mounted on the other end of said cylindrical shell, substantially identical, flat actuating rods disposed on opposite sides of said separator plate, each of said rods extending through said gu-ide slot, a pair of semi-circular guide members aliixed to respective ones of said rods slidably received within said bushing.

2. A dual actuator mechanism comprising: a hollow cylindrical shell, a hollow cylindrical bushing concentrically mounted in one end of said cylindrical shell, a T-shaped separator plate with the cross bar of the T-shaped plate diametrically mounted inside said one end or" said shell and the stem of the T-shaped plate having a suliicient width for diametrically tting within the bushing, a discshaped end cap, having a guide slot therein, concentrically mounted on the other end of said cylindrical shell, a discshaped spring retaining collar, having a guide slot therein, movably and concentrically disposed within said shell,a helical compression spring disposed within Said shell between said collar and said end cap for urging said spring retaining collar toward the cross bar of the T-shaped separator plate, and substantially identical, iiat actuating rods disposed on opposite sides of said separator plate, each of said rods extending through each of said guide slots, each of said rods having a flanged portion adapted to engage said collar upon the movement of either said rod in a direction to compress said spring, whereby said spring is biased to return said rods to their unoperated position.

3. The mechanism as specified in claimV 2 which alsoV includes a pair of semi-circular guide members secured to respective ones of said rods and slidably received within said bushing.

4. A mechanism as specified in claim 2 in which said separator plate and said rods extend through and beyond said bushing outside said shell by substantially the same amount, thereby to prevent the simultaneous motion of said rods unless both are individually actuated.

5. A mechanism as Ispeciiied in claim 3, in which said shell includes diametrically positioned slots, and the cross bar of saidl T-shaped separator plate includes tongued members at either end inserted in the slots in said shell, thereby to lock said separator plate to said shell.

6. The mechanism specified in claim 5, in which an individual push button is mounted within each of said guide members thereby yto permit linger-tip operation of said actuator rods, whereby the two actuator mechanisms occupy the space normally required for one.

7. A mechanism as specied in claim '6, wherein each of said push buttons is hollow and has a translucent indicia cap mounted thereon to permit its being separately illuminated from a point inside said shell.

8. A dual switch actuator mechanism comprising: a hollow cylindrical shell, a hollow cylindrical bushing cencentrically mounted in one end of said cylindrical shell, a T-shaped separator plate with the cross bar of the T- shaped plate diametrically mounted inside said one end of said shell and the stem of the T-shaped plate diametrically tting within the bushing, a disc-shaped end cap, having a guide slot therein, concentrically mounted on the other end of said cylindrical shell, a disc-shaped spring retaining collar, having a guide slot therein, movably and concentrically disposed within said shell, a helical compression `spring disposed within said shell between Said collar and said end cap for urging said spring retaining collar toward the cross bar of the T-shaped separator plate, and a pair of substantially identical, ilat actuating rods disposed on opposite sides of said separator plate, each of said rods extending through each of said guide slots, each of said rods having a anged portion for engaging said collar upon the movement of either said rod in a direction to compress said spring, whereby said spring is biased to return said rods to their unoperated position, a U-shaped mounting bracket having a slotted base portion aiiixed to said end cap and two legs depending therefrom, a separate cam mounted on the inside of each of the legs of the U-shaped bracket, each of said cams having a notched side, and a separate pawl mounted adjacent each said cam, each said pawl being actuated by the movement of one of said rods, each said pawl having a tongue portion for engaging the notched side of its respective cam, thereby to rotate the respective said cams in a step-by-step manner.

9. A mechanism as specied in claim 8, in which each said cam has a notched periphery, and separate microswitches are mounted on the legs of said mounting bracket adjacent the periphery of respective ones of said cams, said micro-switches each adapted to be alternately actuated and deactuated by the step-by-step rotation of the respective said cams.

10. A mechanism as specied in claim 9, wherein the end of said actuating rod opposite said guide member has a pin mounted thereon adapted to engage a respective one of said pawls.

11. A mechanism as specified in claim 10, in which each of said pawls includes a spring locking arm tensioned against the peripheral notches of respective ones of said cams, thereby normally to maintain each of said cams in any of several predetermined positions corresponding to said peripheral notches.

12. A mechanism as specified in claim 11, in which each of said micro-switches has an actuating member, said bracket includes separate actuating arms mounted thereon adjacent the periphery of each said cam to be actuated by the rotation of each said cam, each said switch actuating member being positioned in the line of movement of said actuating arm thereby to actuate the respective said swtches in response to the operation or respective ones of said actuating arms.

13. An actuator mechanism comprising: a hollow cylindrical housing, a separator plate attached to and positioned in said housing to axially divide the bore of said cylindrical housing into at least two separate portions, said separator plate extending outwardly from one end of said housing, an actuator rod positioned in each of said separate portions of said housing on opposite sides of said separator plate and extending outwardly in a parallel relation from said housing, a push-button divided into at least two separate portions and received on opposite sides of the separator plate for preventing accidental actuation of more than one of said actuating rods at the same time, each divided portion of said push-button being connected to one end of the actuator rods, and a biasing member positioned in contact with said actuating rods for urging said rods to extend out of said housing.

14. An actuator mechanism comprising: a hollow tubular housing, a separator plate positioned in said tubular housing to axially divide said housing, a switch-actuator mechanism positioned on each Iside of said plate in sa-id housing in a mirror-image relation, a spring positioned at one end of said housing adjacent one end of said mechanisms for normally urging said mechanisms to an unactuated position, and mirror-image push buttons attached to the other end of said mechanisms on opposite sides of said plate for affording individual linger-tip operation of said actuator mechanisms.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,026,160 5/ 12 Harkness 200-5 1,105,485 7/ 14 Carlson 200-5 2,773,139 12/56 Forstrom et al 200-5 2,904,662 9/ 59 Spring 200--167 2,930,859 3/ 60 Nolden et al 200-159 2,956,446 10/ 60 Ensign, Jr., et al 200-167 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Examiner. 

13. AN ACTUATOR MECHANISM COMPRISING: A HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL HOUSING, A SEPARATOR PLATE ATTACHED TO AND POSITIONED IN SAID HOUSING TO AXIALLY DIVIDE THE BORE OF SAID CYLINDRICAL HOUSING INTO AT LEAST TWO SEPARATE PORTIONS, SAID SEPARATOR PLATE EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM ONE END OF SAID HOUSING, AND ACTUATOR ROD POSITIONED IN EACH OF SAID SEPARATE PORTIONS OF SAID HOUSING ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SEPARATOR PLATE AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY IN A PARALLEL RELATION FROM SAID HOUSING, A PUSH-BUTTON DIVIDED INTO AT LEAST TWO SEPARATE PORTIONS AND RECEIVED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE SEPARATE PLATE FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL ACTUATION OF MORE THAN ONE OF SAID ACTUATING RODS AT THE SAME TIME, EACH DIVIDED PORTION OF SAID PUSH-BUTTON BEING CONNECTED TO ONE END OF THE ACTUATOR RODS, AND A BIASING MEMBER POSITIONED IN CONTACT WITH SAID ACTUATING RODS FOR URGING SAID RODS TO EXTEND OUT OF SAID HOUSING.. 